THURSDAY
S I N C E
SEPTEMBER 12, 2013
1 8 9 5 Pitmans head south for snow
Vol. 118, Issue 144
105
$
INCLUDING G.S.T.
Follow us online
Page 12
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Tax arrears puts properties up for auction
HARVEST TIME
BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Good things come in three, unless it’s a culmination of three years of unpaid property taxes. The City of Trail is in position to hold its annual sale of properties with taxes that have not been paid for three years, confirmed council Monday night. Landowners have until Sept. 30 to pay up, or the 32 delinquent properties, owing a total of $92,868, will be legally put up for public auction. According to the local government act, municipalities can hold the annual tax sale at 10 a.m. the last Monday in September, at council chambers. The collector (a designated member of city staff) must conduct the proceedings by offering for sale by public auction each parcel of real property on which taxes are delinquent. “For the most part, these are residential and business properties where property taxes have not been paid since 2011,” explained David Perehudoff, Trail’s chief administrative officer (CAO) “But the properties are still being lived in or used in business.” Prior to auction, the city is required to advertise the properties subject to the tax sale in at least two issues of a local newspaper. Publishing the property address puts the owner on notice and, in Trail, that usually means taxes are paid up before the end of the month. There are a variety of reason why taxes go unpaid, but typically by the time of the tax sale, there may only be 10 properties remaining that advance to the actual sale, said Perehudoff. Last year, 31 properties had three years of outstanding taxes, however, by the end of September, only 10 remained in arrears and were put up to public auction. In the event that the property is up for auction and sold, all unpaid property taxes become due and payable at time of sale. All taxes include current, arrears and delinquent plus interest and penalties, which is called the upset price or the minimum price that the city must receive at the tax sale. But all is not lost for owners who do not buck up and their property is actually sold. Council has a policy that allows the city to bid on any properties that are advanced to the property sale. “The city will bid up to 75 per cent of the assessed value of the property if other members of the public attend and also bid on the properties at the tax sale,” said Perehudoff. This process allows council to extend the redemption period by one year so people can reclaim their property without losing the title. See OWNERS, Page 3
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
Francesco Marino has grown his Miral Heights giardino from a rocky patch of soil into a thriving eden of tomatoes, peppers, colourful flowers and fruit trees. The red delicious apples were sweet and ready to harvest Wednesday.
Whooping cough persists in Greater Trail BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Five new cases of whooping cough has Greater Trail still in the outbreak stage of the disease, warns an Interior Health physician. Whooping cough (pertussis) is a highly contagious respiratory system which can result in prolonged illness, especially for infants and young children. Since June, 24 cases have been diagnosed in the Kootenay Boundary, with the majority occurring in Rossland and
Trail, confirmed Dr. Rob Parker, Medical Health Officer for the health authority. “We are still seeing more cases,” said Parker, adding, “that means the bacteria (pertussis) is still circulating in the communities.” Although Parker could not conclude if the new cases were school-related, he encouraged parents to review their children’s immunization record to make sure they are up to date with vaccines. “We have repeated outbreaks in the Kootenay Boundary,” he said. “I ask parents who haven’t immun-
ized their kids to think about it again and talk to a public health nurse. Immunizations are safe and protect not only your child but your neighbour’s child.” Outbreak measures are in place, and include a plan to provide booster shots to Grade 9 students in the fall rather than the usual winter month; and public health nurses are tight in following up with parents who have missed or cancelled immunization appointments, according to Parker. See FIRST, Page 3
Summit Savings
RATES AS HIGH AS
1.60%
INVEST NOW AND YOU COULD WIN DOUBLE YOUR 2013 INTEREST!
Summit Savings offers high interest and total freedom. Earn up to 1.53% on deposits of $10,000+ or up to 1.60% on $100,000+ plus a chance to double your interest for the rest of the year! Rates shown are subject to change and without profit shares. Maximum prize $1,500. Contest closes September 30, 2013. Full details in branch and at kscu.com.
kscu.com
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN250-368-8550 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242 Canada Post, Contract number 42068012